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Beside my tree

I ditched my oak tree
Like a heartless oaf
My pal, the oak tree
My alter ego
We were of the same wood—a tad rustic, a bit rough—used to make anything
But flutes, naturally.
I've now got ash trees.
Trees of Judea.
All of good stock
Of high class timber
But you, your absence is felt.
My old branch of the country
My one ‘n' only Christmas tree
My mast of Cocagne.
 
When close beside my tree,
I lived blissfully
Never should I have gone away from my tree
When close beside my tree,
I lived happily.
Never should I have let it from my sight.
 
I’m just a poor guy
I’d have no more joy
I threw out my pipe
My old wooden pipe
That had smoked, without trouble
Without ever burning my lip
Tobacco that I could scrounge
In its good, well-aged pipe bowl.
I own meerschaum pipes
Adorned with flowerlets
Some of those pipes smoked
Lifting up the front,
But, dammit, I won’t find again
In my heart nor on my lip
The taste of my ol' wooden pipe.
 
When close beside my tree,
I lived blissfully
Never should I have gone away from my tree
When close beside my tree,
I lived happily.
Never should I have let it from my sight.
 
The label "traitor"
Fits me like a glove.
Leaving my wife,
I simply cleared off
'Cause for so many years
It'd been no sinecure
To see all the time, her face
Full of reproach.
I franticly searched
To discover the
New lady friend
As good as the former
Who, I admit, left a lot
Too many rocks in the lentils
But threw her arms 'round my neck
When I had the blues
 
When close beside my tree,
I lived blissfully
Never should I have gone away from my tree
When close beside my tree,
I lived happily.
Never should I have let it from my sight.
 
I had an attic room
For sole accommodations
With cracks opening
To the firmament
I got to know it by heart since
And charging one kiss for the ride
I would take my night beauties
On a trip
over the Great Bear.
I live in no attic now
So henceforth it can
Pour down cats and dogs,
I don't give a damn,
But if anyone scales heaven
Less than I, I'd eat my hat
T's been 107 years, beat that!
Since I saw the moon last!
 
When close beside my tree,
I lived blissfully
Never should I have gone away from my tree
When close beside my tree,
I lived happily.
Never should I have let it from my sight.
 
Original lyrics

Auprès de mon arbre

Click to see the original lyrics (French)

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